Entering its fifteenth day on Saturday, the CPI(M)’s Bangla Bachao Yatra moved through Hooghly, holding a public meeting in Chandannagar and carrying its campaign for what the party describes as an alternative politics into both rural and urban Bengal.

The yatra, which began at Tufanganj in Cooch Behar on November 29, is scheduled to conclude at Kamarhati in North 24 Parganas on December 17 after traversing large parts of north and south Bengal.

Over the past two weeks, the procession has passed through Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia and East Burdwan, covering a substantial distance across the state.

Addressing reporters at Pandua in Hooghly on Friday, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Salim described the yatra as more than a symbolic march.

“Bangla Bachao Yatra is not just about speeches; it is not just a journey. This journey is multidimensional. New issues are emerging along the path of this journey. New problems. There is talk of livelihood, there is talk of microfinance problems. Through this journey, the message of standing by the people is being spread across Bengal,” he said.

Salim also alleged that the Trinamool Congress(TMC), with the help of the BJP, had stolen votes in Diamond Harbour.

CPI(M) leader Minakshi Mukherjee at a rally in Chandannagar, Hooghly.

Responding to questions, he added, “We have brought the one and a half month program of Bangla Bachao Yatra for SIR in 15 days. We have planned and prepared our journey.”

On Friday, the yatra reached Memari via Hematpur from Nabadwip. Speaking at a public rally in Memari, Salim said Bengal could be saved only if people united against both the BJP and the TMC, asserting that strengthening the red flag was essential for the state’s future.

He accused the Trinamool of attacking Bengal’s tradition, culture, harmony and solidarity “on the orders of Nagpur”, alleging that the party had allowed the influence of the RSS to grow in the state.

At the same meeting, CPI(M) leader Minakshi Mukherjee urged people to overcome fear and rally behind the Left.

“Keep away fear and raise the red flag. Trinamool BJP is creating panic among people in the name of SIR, temples and mosques. Join forces and stop this conspiracy,” she said.

East Burdwan district secretary Syed Hossain, addressing the gathering, highlighted economic distress in rural areas.

“There is no work in the villages. People are moving to other states to survive. Form an alliance and join the fight to change this situation,” he said.

After the Memari programme, the yatra moved on to Pandua in Hooghly, where Syed Hossain formally handed over the Bangla Bachao Yatra flag to Hooghly district secretary Debabrata Ghosh. CPI(M) leaders addressed a public meeting at the venue, and a legal aid centre aimed at supporting debt-ridden people was inaugurated.

Apart from Salim and Mukherjee, several Left leaders, including Banya Tudu, Avas Roy Chowdhury and Ghosh, also addressed the Pandua meeting.

Speaking again at the Pandua rally, Salim accused the BJP and Trinamool of attempting to divide people along religious and community lines.

“The BJP-TMC is trying to confuse everyone, who is Hindu, who is Muslim, who is Matua. We are asking people to form alliances by highlighting the real problems of people's lives. We are talking about uniting all people,” he said.